Essex County herald. [volume] (Guildhall, Vt.) 1873-1964, 1887-12-23
A PROBLEM SOLVED
BY o. 8. ADAMS.

$50 you see that interrupted resolu-
ton is simply an unexpected turn of
affairs"
Percy Blake was musical in .tructor in
the Ii llside Seminary, and he stood up
before class of ten young ladies to
whom he was unfolding the mysteries
of harmony and composition. lie
brushed the chalk from his fingers and
cont nued:
AFTER hearing the dominant seventh
chord, which is the point of unrest, a
feeling of expectancy is excited in the
musically sensitive ear, and there is an
imperative demand for the tonic chord,
which alone can constitute point of
repose No other progression leaves a
sense of completeness; and even the
uncultivated ear can accept nothing else
as finality.
II will illustrate on the piano. Now,
listen: here is the dominant, and you
expect next to hear the tonic; but | sub
stitute different chord, and the effect
is disappointing. You feel that the ex-
pected termination is delayed, and that
to stop here would be impossible
''This is what constitutes interrupted
resolution Unemployment is fruitful
source of variety in musical compost
tions. Used with Judgment and art, it
may lead to effects which tantalize or ex-
cite the listener. These effects may be
likened unto threading ones way through
the mazes of q labyrinth, or branching
off from pleasant country road into
hu- moth nro cn16an ,honpeo of
when certain end is apparently in view,
or the losing of ones way in a forest.
Interrupted resolution may be compared
with the spice of life, imparting novelty
to humdrum experience. It's departure
from hackneyed ways, arousing curiosity,
expectation, wonder. The composer
makes you speculate as to what new de-
velopments may turn up. He opens new
visions of beauty, and occasionally gives
the impression of letting his thoughts
run wild.
'Yet there is method in all that he
does. His path is marked ont, and he
knows his course. He is like a novelist
who works on the sympathy of his read
ers by raising up obstacles between the
lovers, though he is sure to unite them
finally"
SIS he2" This question came in low
chirp from pair of pouting lips, from
above which two round eyes looked in
mischievous inquiry at Percy Blake. The
questioner blushed forthwith, for the
chirp had been little louder than was
intended. Mr. Blake heard it, and his
glance quickly darted in the direction
from which it had come The whole
class Uttered, and Mr.. Blake himself was
somewhat confused. But he recovered
his self possession instantly and replied:
Certainly he is, Miss Boyce; that is
If he understands the tastes of his young
lady readers"
"Ohr came from several voices, in
mock disdain, and there was small
gust of breezy laughter.
But Percy Blake tapped on the table
to secure attention, and began to give a
black board lesson, frequently illus
trating it on the grand.piano. He then
gave the girls an exercise to write, and
concluded by putting a little part song
on the blackboard and making them
sing it. Then bell rang, and Professor
Blake said:
"Well, try and remember the rules of
the new progression. Don't make con-
secutive fifths, and bring your exercises
written neatly. Come to me if you
stumble on any knotty points. Dis
missed"
He turned to the piano as the girls
filed out of the room, and awaited the
coming of duh pupil who could not re-
member the thumb letters in the scale
of c.
Percy Blake's boarding house was in a
quiet part of the village. After taking
tea that evening he went to his room,
and tilted back in an easy chair, indulged
in reverie. A cigar was between his
fingers, and occasional puffs of smoke
were pro; ;ected toward the ceiling. In
these curling wreathes of blue he seemed
to seek counsel, studying with great in
tentness their varying and fantastic
shapes. At length, with a gesture of
impatience as if at his own irrcsolution,
he abruptly rose, put on his hat, and
Quilted the house. A brisk walk soon
took him to the Hillside Seminary, and
into reception room of that institution
he quickly proceeded, having first sent
his card to Miss Mildred Boyce. She
was the pupil who had put the question
to him, following his disquisition on
interrupted resolution" She was the
daughter of the principal of the semi
nary, and inherited much of certain
outflow of energy which characterized
her father. She was the life of the
school and the inventive spiri: in all en-
tertainments. She was little older
than the other girls, and studied only
music and painting. of course her So
cial privileges exceeded those of the
regular pupils.
"Good evening, Mr.. Blake; 1 am SO
glad to SCI You"